The Ultimate Guide to Island Hopping & Saving Money
Bangkok via Surat Thani to Koh Phangan
Are you ready for Koh Phangan full moon party this year? Flying to Surat Thani Airport is not only a quicker route from Bangkok but considerably cheaper than flying into Koh Samui, Phuket and/or Krabi. If you choose to go over land from Bangkok directly to Koh Phangan be prepared to be exhausted. The bus trip combined with the ferry trip takes around 11 hours and generally cost a lot more money than flying. Book a flight through thailand’s local skyscanner- skyscanner.th for cheaper local flights. Flights are between £15-£30 each way to Surat Thani if you book ahead of time.
Getting a ferry to Koh Phangan
Lomprayah ferries are the cheapest for fastest and cheapest connections to the islands. When you arrive of the boat to koh phangan take a ‘right’ hand turn for ‘Haad Rin Beach’ or the road directly in front of you to go to Amsterdam bar and Haad salad beach.After the fullmoon party it is near impossible to get a ferry ticket back to mainland. Plan in advance as it could be a week or so to get of the island unless you have booked a return ticket. ( The Shaunna 101 – Lesson learnt).
Where to stay on the island
Contrary to belief Koh Phangan is a rather large island. If you prefer a quieter spot and are happy to spent 20-30mins in a Tuk Tuk to access the main town then stay in Koh Salad. Once you are in Haad salad prices dramatically drop, therefore you can get your own bungalow on the beach at My Way Bungalows for just £17.50 a night. If you do end up here don’t miss out on a massage on the beach, the therapists are slightly more expensive than normal but extremely well trained. If you want to be close to the party life on Haad Rin, known for its famous full moon parties , then stay at one of the following hostels;
Where to go on the island for Sunset
When are the full moon parties on in 2017?
12th January | 12th February | 12th March
11th April | 9th June | 10th July | 7th August
5th September |6th October | 3rd November | 3rd December
Get ready for the Koh Phangan party by checking out – http://fullmoonparty-thailand.com/schedules.html
Top tips
- Riding mopeds or motorcycles is pretty dangerous in Koh Phangan due to the poor maintenance of the roads.
- Amsterdam bar is tricky for moped drivers due to its steep inclines, however after a few it is equally difficult to walk back down…
- If you are venturing to full moon or the jungle party take a Tuk Tuk and leave the moped behind!
- If you are running low on money, grab a toastie from Seven Eleven for 35 baht.
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